Rail-clamp.



UNTTnn STATES Patented March 22, 1904.

ATENT FFICE.

RAlL-CLAMP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 755,020, dated March 22, 1904.

Application filed August 3, 1903.

T0 aZZ whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, ORLANDO D. LENT, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Peekskill, in the county of VVestchester and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail-Clamps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the firm joining of the ends of railroad-rails; and its object is to provide a clamping device that may be easily applied, simple in its operation, that will effectually accomplish the desired object and not be subject to easily becoming loosened, that will lessen the damage to the ends of rails from their unequal and unsteady joining and lessen the watchfulness required to keep the clamping-bolts secure. These objects are attained by the means set forth in this specification and the accompanying drawings.

In the several figures of the drawings like numbers refer to similar parts;

Figure I is an end elevation of the clamp in application with some parts shown in crosssection. Fig. II is a side elevation of the clamp. Fig. III is a view of the bottom of the clamp. Fig. IV is a plan of the clamp applied to the rails. Fig. V is a detail relating to Fig. II.

The clamp comprises four pieces besides the setscrewsthe side plates at a and two clamphooks 0, Figs. I and II. The side plates are made to embrace the sides and bottom of the rail, as in Fig. I, and comprises three parts, the part 8 extending under the bottom 2 of the rail, the part 7 extending along the Web 3 and to the under side of the tread 1, the part 4: uniting the parts 8 and 7 and containing a suflicient mass of metal to give strength and solidity to sustain all pressure and strain to which it may be subjected. At'or near each end of these side plates they are provided With flanges 5, shown in all the figures except the third, but in plan and elevation in Figs. IV and V, respectively, and partly in cross-section in Fig. I. The ends of the flanges are flush with the edges of the part t and form right angles with the bases of the plates. These side plates are held'in place by clamphooks c 0 upon each end. The hooks consist Serial No. 167,964. (No model.)

of a suitably heavy base 6 with angular arms 6. 6 and are applied to the side plates, as shown in Figs. I, II, III, and IV. The side plates are provided with holes 10 10, Fig. V, preferably countersunk, as shown in Fig. I, where they are shown as occupied by the points of set-screws 9 9 and by fixed conical points 11 11. One of the holes or countersinks is made in the end of the flange 5 and one below it in the edge of the plate.

As shown in Fig. I, one of the arms of the clamp-hook is provided with the points 11' 11, preferably integral with the arm, and the other with set-screws 9 9. IVhen the parts described are all in place and are set up by the set-screws, as in Fig. I, the two ends of the rails, as in Figs. I and II, are held practically as one rail, so far as the ability of either to move vertically or sidewise is concerned. Only the force of expansion and contraction can move the rails laterally.

At 14, Figs. II, III, IV, are shown holes to receive spikes or bolts to secure the clamp to the ties.

The bottoms of the plates 0 are provided with interlocking means, as shown in Fig. III, a projecting part 12 on one entering a notch 13 correspondingly placed on the opposite plate.

No skill will be required to apply these clamps, as the two side plates can join only in a proper alinement, and the holes 10 10 are a guide for the placing of the clamp-hooks c.-

In Figs. III and IV the clamp-hooks are omitted from one end to show the appearance of the parts before the hooks are applied.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

1. The combination in a rail-clamp of the rail ends, side plates fitted to opposite sides of the rails, flanges at or near the ends of the sideplates, clamp-hooks applied to the flanged parts of the side plates, and set-screws in the clamp hooks to compress the side plates against the rails.

2. The combination in a rail-clamp with the ends of the rails, of side plates oppositely fitting the sides and bottoms of the rails, flanges on the sides of the side plates, countersunk holes in the ends of the flanges and bottom edges of the side plates, a notch in the bottom of one side plate, and an interlocking projection on the bottom of the other side plate to engage with the said notch, and clamp-hooks to embrace the side plates at their flanges, with points on one arm to engage with countersinks on one of the side plates, and set-screws in the other arm to engage with the countersinks I in the other side plate, all as set forth.

Signed at Peekskill, in the county of Westchester and State of New York, this 24th day of July, A. D. 1903.

ORLANDO D. LENT. Witnesses:

OSCAR CLARK, FLOYD F. POWELL. 

